Have read quite a few posts and recommendations for dinner in BKK. I am looking for venue for v. special dinner for 2. Have booked Sirocco end March, but wonder if it is overpriced. It is not a question of cost but rather quality and ambience. Interested to hear other preferred options, or confirmation that Sirocco is great!
Happy travels.

What kind of food are you looking for? In Sirocco you're paying a heavy premium for the rooftop location. I'd be tempted to suggest eating your dinner in air-con comfort in Mezzaluna (same complex, but indoors a few floors down) and coming out just for drinks. Alternatively, any of the restaurants in Banyan Tree are quite good, and the Vertigo bar offers views that are as amazing (although Sirocco/The Dome still pip it thanks to more space and the live jazz).

Scirocco is on the "bad" side of "mediocre", Mezzaluna less so. Also, the service can have uneeded attitude, almost as if they are doing you a favor allowing you to eat there. If you want good food and service in BKK, there are many other choices.

In terms of food we are fairly happy trying anything eg Thai or Western. It is our last night in BKK - coinciding with a special event so wanted to splash out a bit. We love good food ... the view & atmosphere eg music would be an added bonus. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

Some of my favorites:

MahaNaga (Sukhumvit Soi 29, I think) - Thai/Asian/Fusion with a very nice ambiance, and really good food. Pricey for Bangkok, but a steal by western standards

Hazara (Sukhumvit Soi 38) - Indian. In the Face Bar complex. Very nice abiance as well, but much better food than it's Thai sister restaurant (Lam Na Thai, which is, IMO, only average). Probably the second best Indian food I have ever had. Great bar for drinks before/after dinner (try hanging out on one of the opium beds), and a separate dessert resaurant if you are so inclined.

Baan Khanita (Sukhumvit Soi 23) - Thai. Good (but not great) atmosphere. Very good Thai food. Cheaper than MahaNaga or Hazara.

I think you will find that good food and a (western standard of) nice ambiance are pretty rare. Thai's tend to not place a big premium on ambience, so these places tend to focus on wealthy expats & high end tourists.

You might also try some of the high end hotel (Oriental, Peninsula) restaurants. I haven't tried em, so cannot comment.

I spend quite a bit of time in BKK since I own a company there. I have been to the Pennisula for dinner. One of my friends was staying there and insisted we dine there. The service was impeccable but the food was over-priced and rather mediocre for the money. The room was lovely but frankly, I have had many better meals at small foodstalls in BKK. The presentation was quite nice but I kept looking out the window and trying to catch a glimpse of what was going down the river (big boats that were lit up) and wished I was there.

However I believe the Oriental does a dinner cruise or a dinner show thing that is quite nice but have never been so...
Kevin

I have not dined there persoanlly - but Pickes' description was confirmed by a friend - assuming we're talking about the same one!

L'Opera ..Italian Perfection ^



http://www.frommers.com/destinations...ok/D54036.html

Thanks we will try Hazara and maybe MahaNaga.

You might try a dinner cruise. The Wan Fah and Loy Nava are good ones. There will be more food than you can eat and the atmosphere is great. The price is reasonable. Be sure not to book a cruise with a buffet. You can check out the ones I mentioned on the internet and see their menu.

Meh. I've tried Wan Fah (non-buffet, served at our table) and found the food to be, by Thai standards, fairly poorly done and tasteless and the "cultural shows" rather pathetic. The views of Bangkok's temples by night, though, are quite impressive.

Ar! Reminds me of the time a friend of mine booked the whole Oriental boat for a dinner cruise, and as we were heading towards the temples, the Wan Fah was coming back. His comment was that it was sad to have no taste.

My 2 suggestions would be Sala Rim Nan - the Oriental's Thai restaurant on the other side of the river and Salathip - the thai restaurant at the Shangrila. Both have river views and Thai dance shows and the food is good.
I tend to stick to the cuisine of the country I am in so have never been in any of the western restaurants mentioned.

Now considering the China House at MO. Have heard the Peking Duck is to die for . Alternatively will dine at Sala Rim Nan and go to Sirocco or Vertigo for pre or post dinner drinks. Thanks for the advice & recommendations.

Some more reviews if you dont take my word for it...^
http://chefmoz.org/Thailand/Bangkok/L'Opera1181469271.html
http://www.thailandroad.com/joe/italian.html
http://thailand.samworthington.com/b..._an_itali.html

Salute!